Thursday, December 12, 2013

The Hero - Robyn Carr

[I received this book from the publisher. This in no way affects the thoughts expressed in my review.]

In a moment of desperation, Devon McAllister takes her daughter and flees a place where they should have been safe and secure. She has no idea what is around the next bend, but she is pretty certain it can't be worse than what they've left behind. Her plan is to escape to somewhere she can be invisible. Instead, an unexpected offer of assistance leads her to Thunder Point, a tiny Oregon town with a willingness to help someone in need.

As the widowed father of a vulnerable young boy, Spencer Lawson knows something about needing friendship. But he's not looking for anything else. Instead, he's thrown his energy into his new role as Thunder Point's high school football coach. Tough and demanding to his team, off the field he's gentle and kind...just the kind of man who could heal Devon's wounded heart.

Devon thought she wanted to hide from the world. But in Thunder Point, you find bravery where you least expect it...and sometimes, you find a hero. (from Goodreads)

The Thunder Point series, in spite of my brief hiatus from it, still feels like home - comfortable and cozy. This small town and its residents are familiar friends, easy to slip back in amongst and enjoy. Each new addition comes with a new set of characters to love, unspooling their lives into stories of courage, settling down and love.

The Hero is my favorite of the series, simply because the story just kept me turning the pages. Apart from the familiar characters (like Cooper & Sarah, Landon & Eve, Gina & Mac, Rawley, and more), we're introduced to Devon. She might just be my new favorite character of the entire series! She's had a difficult past, particularly in the past few years, but she is determined to rise above it. Her ability to be a mother to her daughter Mercy is admirable, only eclipsed by her kind heart, optimism and willingness to work hard.

It makes my heart flutter to think about the romance that blooms between Devon and Spencer. While I wish I'd gotten a better idea of who he was (which perhaps means I should read The Newcomer?), in the end, all that mattered was that he knew how to take care of a woman and treat her right. His connection to the Thunder Point community is so strong, and that's something that I feel like Devon truly needed in her own life.

Devon also had issues stemming from her past to deal with. In the beginning, it looks like she made her escape with her daughter Mercy - and with thanks, surprisingly, to Rawley, the silent elderly man who helps Cooper out. She starts to forge her own path, carving a life out for herself and Mercy in Thunder Point. It was only a matter of time before the issues found their way into her new world, and it is then when Devon is truly tested.

There's quite a bit of action in the latter part of the novel. It is during these times that we witness Rawley and his incredible (hidden) abilities. It is also during these times that we see Devon rally, gather her courage and fight for her daughter and her right to live freely. It got intense fairly quickly, with things escalating to a nerve-wracking climax.

The Hero was a wonderful visit back to the town of Thunder Point, allowing readers to see how the characters they know and love are getting along. It also provides a new addition to the town's stories, complete with new characters to fall in love with. The title of this book is pretty apt, as many times, we see various characters being heroes in their own right, in ways big and small. That's really what it's all about, in my opinion - learning how to be a hero and allowing one's self to be a hero - and Carr weaves it excellently into her tale.

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4 comments

My mom adores this series! She had a hard time getting into the first book, but she is really enjoying it now. I might have to give it a try, especially since you and I tend to have the same taste in books.

I like the characters already! Devon and Spencer seems to give the book a great romance and I love a man who can treat a girl right. Too many freaks and jerks in books nowadays IMO. Great review, Alexa! Ill have to go hunt down book 1! :)

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Hi, I'm Alexa! 29 years old, married to the love of my life, resident of New York. Extremely passionate about books, adventures and the importance of dessert. Hope you stick around a while and enjoy a blog post or two! (PS - Here are my review & blog policies.)